How to De-Puff Your Face in 3 Minutes Flat, According to a Surgeon

Sometimes, you might wake up in the morning and see an unfamiliar face looking back at you in the mirror. The slightly more swollen, puffier face that has greeted you can be the result of many things. When a few splashes of cold water just won't cut it, a facial massage could be the answer. It only takes a few minutes, improves your skin function, and helps your products work harder by allowing for deeper penetration. Full disclosure, we're more impressed by the instant complexion-boosting benefits.

"Facial massage stimulates blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, perks up your facial contour, and provides an instant natural glow," says plastic surgeon Dr. Davis B. Nguyen, who taught us the technique. Keep reading to find out how it's done, along with additional tips on how to de-puff your face.

Nguyen recommends doing this massage technique morning and night with your serum. He's a fan of SkinMedica's TNS Essential Serum, but you want a serum with a good amount of slip, like Olay Super Serum. Aim for a full three minutes, but in a pinch, even just one minute will help wake up (and de-puff) your complexion.

Step 1. Apply Product and Massage

Apply a nickel-sized amount of product to your fingertips. In circular motions, massage the product across the outer contours of your face, working inward. Continue this movement for about a minute.

Step 2. Focus on Your Hollows

Open your mouth slightly to find the hollows of your cheekbones. Place your index and middle fingers in the hollows. In upward motions, apply gentle pressure as you massage your cheeks. “Be careful not to drag the skin down; the goal is to lift here,” Nguyen says.

Step 3. Pinch Your Jawline

Using your fingers and thumbs, pinch all along your jawline with firm pressure. Keep squeezing and releasing for a minute or two. This portion of the massage is especially important for lymphatic drainage: “Think of your chin and jawline as your facial ‘trash can,’ where all the toxic buildup gets disposed of,” Nguyen says. This technique promises to help flush that all out, leaving you puff-free.

Step 4. Tap Your Skin

Finish by giving your skin a little tap-tap-tap all over for extra stimulation. 

What Causes a Puffy Face?

There are many reasons as to why you might wake up with a puffy face in the morning. Poor sleep, water retention, the effects of alcohol in your system, or a sinus infection are some reasons that can contribute to puffiness. Dehydration can also be the reason for your puffy face, especially if you ingested a lot of salt the day/night before. From a health standpoint, poor gut health or hyperthyroidism can also lead to facial bloating. If you notice persistent puffiness that does not seem to change, contact your health professional to rule out any underlying causes.

Ways to De-Puff Your Face

No matter how you do it, dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian recommends a daily massage, preferably in the morning when puffiness is greatest.

"Focus on starting in the middle of the face, and gently push and massage outwards or upwards around the mid-face and forehead," she instructs. In addition to Nguyen's facial massage technique, here are some other ways to de-puff your face.

Gua Sha

Gua Sha is a popular lifting and depuffing tool that enhances lymphatic flow and improves circulation. "You can instantly improve puffiness and give a lifted appearance to the skin, but long-term improvement is also noted due to pressure receptors in the tissue. It only takes a few minutes, but the improvement and benefits are real," says Nazarian. She adds that the gentle, but constant pressure along lymphatic circulation can "boost drainage of lymphatic fluid along in the tissue to the outer borders of the face, debloat, and improve blood circulation."

Facial Rollers

Facial rollers offer a similar benefit in terms of improving lymphatic flow, according to Nazarian. "Many [facial rollers] can be put in the fridge to apply cold, offering another path for decreasing puffiness via vasoconstriction, or clamping of the blood vessels, which immediately gives people a refreshed appearance," she says of using cold to decrease redness and puffiness.

Key Products

While a facial massage can be done to bare skin, it's best to use a product, specifically any product that allows for gliding since all mediums will decrease surface tensions. "I prefer serums that have the highest potency and are ideal for the penetration-enhancing properties of the technique, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, or serums with brightening ingredients like niacinamide and licorice root extract," says Nazarian.

Photographer: Kat Borchart

Hair and Makeup: Barbara Lamelza

Producer: Jenna Peffley

Model: Shiya